THE SMASH BROTHERS
The Smash Brothers (Wikipedia) is a sweeping, 9-part documentary series about the best Super Smash Brothers Melee players and the community they created. Released in October 2013 on YouTube, the series quickly went viral - garnering over 14 million views hosted on several different platforms.
Each episode follows the unlikely path of a competitive world which sprang up around a party game; the unfolding of intense regional and international rivalries as they played out in underground tournaments and eventually on the big stages of Major League Gaming.
Praised by reviewers for its high-production value, narrative structure and focus on the human stories of its subjects, The Smash Brothers consistently ranks among the best gaming documentaries ever made.
In late 2014, a followup series entitled Metagame began production and was subsequently released in December 2020.
Available to watch for free on the East Point Pictures YouTube channel.
EPISODE 1: SHOW ME YOUR MOVES
A sting operation to showcase the raw talent difference between a pro and an amateur kicks off the introductory episode, Show Me Your Moves. Learn how early techniques like L-canceling and wavedashing quickly separated the pros from the noobs and spurred the development of a regional tournament scene.
The episode ends on a climactic showdown - who’s the best in the country, Ken or Azen?
Runtime: (20:33)
EPISODE 2: NO JOHNS
In No Johns, the rivalries heat up as newcomer Isai joins Ken against Azen and the other East Coast elites.
After a bitter defeat, Azen is given a second chance at redemption and a shot to be called best in the world.
But will he step up to the plate?
Runtime: (27:02)
EPISODE 3: DON’T GET HIT
As the tournament scene explodes onto the big stage at Major League Gaming, Melee's greatest teams player falters in his singles career.
In Don't Get Hit, Isai must choose between passions and enigmatic loyalties as he faces off against his own team partner and the reigning smash champion, Ken.
Their showdown will forever change the way Melee is played.
Runtime: (28:23)
EPISODE 4: THE KING OF SMASH
With the coastal rivalries reaching a boiling point, it seems The King of Smash has no equal.
The East Coast makes a final gambit to claim supremacy in a crew battle, but with the globe trotting Ken knocking down pins as far away as Japan, is there no one person who can stand up to the King?
Runtime: (28:15)
EPISODE 5: REVOLUTION
With Azen out of the game, the East Coast finds a new champion in the guise of skater PC Chris.
With a laid back style and a ferocious Falco, PC takes the battle to the King of Smash in 3 raucous tournament finals.
When the last stocks are finally tallied, will the Revolution be complete?
Runtime: (28:15)
EPISODE 6: PAPER CUTS
After PC opens the door, newcomers KoreanDJ and Mew2King jump into the fray.
With Azen back from retirement, Ken's grip on the throne begins loosening to a swarm of Paper Cuts.
Who will come out on top at the MLG National Championships in Las Vegas and claim the largest prize in Melee history?
Runtime: (33:32)
EPISODE 7: THE ROBOT
After MLG drops smash and Nintendo releases a sequel, the days of competitive Melee seem numbered.
Mew2King, the new champion of both smash titles (and known colloquially as The Robot) presses on as he searches for perfection.
But in his path stands perhaps the greatest smasher of all time: Mango.
Runtime: (29:56)
EPISODE 8: THE NATURAL
Take a journey to the last tournament ever put on by The Ship of Fools as the most bitter rivalry in Melee history plays out on the big stage.
A conservative Jiggs player, Hungrybox plays the epitome of "nice guy" and wants nothing more than to be friends with Mango.
But The Natural Mango lives and breathes in the fast-lane and can't respect the man who has taken over his mantle as the best Jiggs player.
Emotions run high as the two face off head-to-head.
Runtime: (39:31)
EPISODE 9: GAME!
The last big chance for Melee to take the main stage at Evo2k13 is nearly thwarted by the company which gave birth to smash, challenging the whole community to take a stand for breast cancer research and the game they've loved for over a decade.
In the end, what was it all about? The championships? The rivalries? Or was it something else?
Find out in the last episode, Game!
Runtime: (22:42)
IN THE MEDIA
"You've gotta watch this Super Smash Bros. Melee documentary that follows some of the top players in the scene - it's quite good. Accessible, too... they break the game down wonderfully."
- KOTAKU, 10/16/13
"THE SMASH BROTHERS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ESPORTS DOCUMENTARIES OF ALL TIME."
- THE DAILY DOT, 10/17/13.
"If you're a fan of gaming whatsoever, this is simply a must see. No other fan-made documentary is in the ballpark of The Smash Brothers, and flat-out makes the others look bad. And from the small collection of gaming documentaries out there, this is one of the best."
- INFO BARREL, 10/27/13